By Jeff Lipton
A move by the Town of Hempstead to acquire a piece of property at Central Avenue and Franklin Place could provide some relief for shoppers who drive around in circles looking for a place to park.
During a meeting of the Woodmere Merchants Association on Tuesday, March 4 at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, Town Councilman James Darcy (R-Valley Stream) was invited to update merchants on plans for improved parking. Darcy told merchants that the town has been trying to acquire property at Franklin and Central to turn it into a municipal parking lot.
Darcy said that he and Town Councilman Anthony Santino (R-Hewlett) have met with newly appointed Town Supervisor Kate Murray to discuss the possible acquisition of property in that area. I don't anticipate too much opposition from her, Darcy told the association at the meeting. We are dealing with the acquisition of property and the construction of a parking lot.
Sy Glass, president of the Merchants Association, said that parking is at a premium in the community, and that any project would help the merchants' cause.
We are working to try to improve the community, Glass said. We desperately need parking spaces on Broadway, which is a narrow street, and stores are being filled. We're looking for that parking lot.
He said the lot they are seeking at Franklin and Central has been leased for years by Brodlieb Motors.
I asked the property be taken under public domain, Glass said. The public needs it for parking space, and we requested it be done that way. The Town of Hempstead is seeing if it is feasible to buy that property. It is a lot of time and effort.
The community has been seeking several solutions to the parking dilemma, including having asked the town to look into the possibility of constructing a double-decker parking lot.
Also at the March 4 meeting, Darcy updated merchants on plans to upgrade the Woodmere Dock. He said as soon as the weather improves, construction on the dock could begin. The town has obtained two of the three permits needed from the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the town is in the process of receiving the final permit.
Most of the work will be performed in-house, which means a significant savings to taxpayers, Darcy said.
The Woodmere Dock project will require the dismantling and reconstruction of the entire 570 feet of existing bulkhead. The areas behind the bulkhead that have to be disturbed in order to replace it will be completely back-filled and resurfaced. Workers will stabilize the wall and use 220 cubic yards of dredging material for backfill. Plans include replacing a 10-by-14-foot section of wooden ramp used for boats and a 5-by-14-foot platform of stairs.
We want to make Woodmere Dock a stellar place in the community, Darcy told the Woodmere merchants.
Glass said that new wastebaskets and a plan to spruce up the streets would further enhance the community. We are going to continue to be active in the community, because the community is growing, Glass said. We've got five different projects going on in the town right now.
